Tips for Breast Augmentation Recovery

Cosmetic surgeries have been on the rise over the past few years. With the help of these procedures, patients can make the changes they want in their bodies. Breast augmentation or boob job is a common breast enlargement surgery performed worldwide. This surgery helps people who are not satisfied with the size of their breasts achieve the desired body shape.

Read more: What are the Most Common Types of Cosmetic Surgery?

Achieving the best results from cosmetic surgeries requires a few special considerations. One of the most important things is to choose a competent and experienced surgeon. Another thing that may be as important as choosing a talented physician is to follow post-surgery tips and instructions.

We should note that most cosmetic surgeries will have a satisfactory result if the patient observes the maximum care tips to complete the surgeon's work. Learning how long the breast augmentation recovery will last and what to expect during the recovery period will help you better prepare for the experience.

Tips for Recovery After Breast Augmentation

After breast augmentation, consider the following tips:

• In case of having warning signs such as infection, fever, or pus coming out of the incisions, seek medical attention ASAP;
• Get as much information as you can from your surgeon or websites to know the risks of the surgery better;
• If you have any sign of hematoma (bleeding under the skin) after surgery, contact your healthcare provider;
• Remember that each body is unique and responds differently to breast augmentation surgery. So, only take medical advice from your surgeon;
• Ask your doctor all of your questions regarding the healing time and process to be well-prepared for what’s to come;
• Make a long-term plan to change your lifestyle;
• Be mentally prepared for a hard week after the surgery.

Breast Augmentation Recovery Timeline

If you wonder what happens during the breast augmentation recovery period, read the following section:

Right after the surgery

Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia. When you wake up from anesthesia, you feel dizzy and achy. You can usually go home on the day of the surgery or the next day, but you will not be allowed to drive for up to a week, so you need to ask someone to drive you home. 

It is good to know that the incision site is quite visible in the first days after the surgery, which gradually fades. You may also have minor bleeding in the first two or three days. That's why you need to use bandages.

The first week 

We recommend asking a family member or friend to be with you for the first 72 hours after surgery. During the first week, you may feel pain in the incision site which prescribed medications and pain pumps can reduce. If your job is not strenuous, you can return to work a week after the surgery. 

Two to four weeks 

After the first week, you almost have no soreness. At this point, your physician may ask you to do your daily activities independently; however, you must avoid strenuous activities such as running and lifting heavy objects. Daily exercise during breast augmentation recovery can speed up your healing process. If your job is labor-intensive, you should return to work once your surgeon allows you. Also, during these two weeks, you should eat five small meals daily instead of three heavy meals. 

Full recovery

Depending on your overall health condition and body features, full recovery takes about 6 to 8 weeks. Almost six weeks after breast augmentation, your breasts should look and feel different, and you can get a check-up at your surgeon’s office. It is suggested to take prescribed painkillers and other meds according to the allotted time until you are fully recovered.

What Should I Do After Breast Augmentation?

Observing the following tips will help you reduce your breast augmentation recovery period and get a much better result from your surgery. Do not forget that, like all cosmetic surgeries, breast augmentation is optional, and you have chosen to go through this experience. We recommend you bring a beautiful and shapely body to yourself by following the tips and instructions during the recovery period. 

• Walk around to help the recovery process and prevent blood clots;
• Use prescribed medications to reduce the pain and avoid infection; 
• Stay hydrated by drinking water and juice and eating dishes that are easy to digest;
• Massage the absorbent sutures after 10 to 14 days or use silicone sheets to remove the scar;
• Contact your doctor if you have any signs of infection, such as fever or scars;
• Clean the operated area with lukewarm water and dry it with a clean towel or pad;
• Maintain a balanced diet rich in zinc and vitamins during the recovery period;
• Gradually increase your level of activity but if it causes pain, stop and consult your surgeon;
• Wear a medical compression bra to reduce swelling of the breasts.

What Should I Avoid after Breast Augmentation?

In addition to the things you should do during the breast augmentation recovery, you must avoid the following to achieve the best results from your operation.

• Do not ignore the pain and nausea after the surgery because extreme soreness and vomiting can be warning signs;
• Avoid wearing your regular bras or underwire ones for three months;
• Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol in the operated area;
• Avoid pushing, pulling, and lifting heavy objects until 15 days after breast augmentation;
• Avoid doing any activity that makes your breast bounce, such as jumping or running;
• Avoid any form of nicotine, including secondary smoke, to prevent blood pressure and help heal the wounds;
• Do not sleep on your side for at least two weeks;
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugar, and reduce screen time before sleep;
• Avoid driving for three days after the boob job to prevent bleeding;
• Do not sleep on your stomach because you may put pressure on the implants or the incisions;
• Avoid junk foods as they irritate your digestive system.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Breast Augmentation?

Each body reacts differently to breast augmentation, so we can never be sure about the exact recovery timeline. In general, recovery takes about four to six months if you do not face serious complications such as infection or severe bleeding. You can shorten this period by avoiding heavy sports, resting, massaging the implants, wearing sports bras, etc.

How to Recover Fast after Breast Augmentation?

After breast augmentation, you must stay home and rest for about one week. Meanwhile, you can consider the following tips to speed up your recovery:

• Take pain relief medicines to control the pain and minimize the discomfort. Make sure that you ask your doctor before taking OTC painkillers;
• Get plenty of rest. Sleeping for at least 7 to 8 hours a day after breast augmentation helps your body to repair the operated site faster, relieves your pain, and speeds up the healing process. You can ask your surgeon about the best sleeping position for you. 
• Do light exercises after seven days. Avoid strenuous activities for two or three months as they can cause damage to the incision site and implants;
• Wear a sports bra with smooth fabric and adjustable straps to stabilize your breast implants, prevent excessive swelling, and regulate blood flow in the breasts. It is recommended to wear a recovery bra every day for two to three months;
• Avoid sexual intercourse for two weeks as it can dislocate the implants, open up the stitches, and slow the healing process;
• Follow your surgeon’s orders. You must follow your doctor's advice to minimize complications and achieve better results.
• Do your housework and shopping before the surgery because, after the surgery, you won’t be able to drive for a week and cannot do chores for a couple of weeks. Having extra activities after a boob job slows the recovery process;
• Have a balanced diet and drink plenty of water to eliminate toxins from the anesthesia. It is necessary to add more vitamins, protein, fiber, and minerals to your post-op diet. You should eat more fresh vegetables and fruit, seafood, seeds, beans, and meat in your daily diet during the recovery period;
• Keep your skin moisturized by applying ointments and topical creams.

What to Expect after Breast Augmentation?

In almost all cases, breast augmentation is done under general anesthesia, so it is normal to feel dizziness, drowsiness, and weakness for a couple of days after the surgery. Moreover, you probably feel pain, tenderness, and pressure in your chest for the first two weeks, but they will be eliminated gradually. You should also expect some swelling and bruising around the operated area. Fortunately, the bruising will be eliminated in 10 to 15 days, and the swelling will subside in three to five weeks.

When Can You See Results from Your Breast Augmentation?

It takes almost a month for the swelling to subside and for the implants to settle. However, you can see the final result from your breast augmentation 6 to 12 months after the operation, depending on how well your body heals. Remember that when your breasts start to look and feel natural, and your scars fade away, you can stop wearing a sports bra.

Possible Complications After Breast Augmentation

Some of the possible complications of breast augmentation include:

Feeling Pain after Breast Augmentation Surgery

It is normal to have mild and manageable breast pain during breast augmentation recovery. However, many patients don’t feel much discomfort after the surgery, and some experience severe pain, especially when they sleep. Your pain level after breast augmentation depends on your genetics, pain management strategies, body response to painkillers, and what your surgeon does to minimize post-surgical pain.

Breast Implant Rupture

Breast implants are usually very flexible and do not rupture easily. Daily activities, exercise, air travel, etc., do not harm the implants; however, the prosthesis may tear up and leak because of their normal aging.

The most common sign of a ruptured saline prosthesis is a sudden shrinkage of the breast. On the other hand, the main signs of ruptured silicone prosthesis are pain, abnormal swelling, and deformity of the breasts. These problems can be eliminated by doing breast augmentation revision and replacing the prosthesis.

Although the implant rupture is not an emergency, contact your surgeon as soon as possible to prevent the formation of internal scars.

Capsular Contracture

In some implants, especially textured ones, the breasts may contract and tighten after scarring. This problem is more likely if the prosthesis is placed on the breast muscle.

Years after a boob job, capsular contracture becomes more likely, but it can be relieved by doing breast augmentation revision and changing the prosthesis; however, there is always the possibility of its recurrence.

Infection

Although infection is a rare complication of breast augmentation, you should be aware of its warning signs during the breast augmentation recovery period. Fever and pus from your wounds are the most prominent signs of infection. Fortunately, infections can be treated with oral or IV antibiotics prescribed by your surgeon. 

Fatigue

The boob job is major surgery and is done under general anesthesia; therefore, being tired for a couple of days after the surgery is normal. Ask someone to be your caregiver during the first week, so you don’t have to do chores, shopping, etc.

Bleeding

Bleeding during the first two weeks after the surgery is normal; however, if you notice excessive bleeding or enlargement of one breast, contact your surgeon immediately. 

Swelling and bruising

Swelling and bruising are natural reactions of your body to surgical trauma. Although they subside within several weeks or months, your doctor probably prescribes homeopathic medications to accelerate the process.  

Discomfort

After breast augmentation, you will experience tightness and pressure in your chest for a couple of months. You can take prescribed painkillers and OTC medications to relieve your pain and minimize your discomfort. 

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy After Breast Augmentation 

Becoming pregnant after breast augmentation is not prohibited. The surgery can also be done during the pregnancy; however, it is not recommended because the breasts become larger during the pregnancy, and it is not possible to make the right decision about the size and location of the implants.

Breastfeeding after a boob job highly depends on the incision type. Usually, the lactation ducts remain in place, and the surgery does not harm the lactation system. However, if the area around the aura and the nipple is cut, the milk produced may be reduced by blocking some ducts.

How Long Does Breast Augmentation Last?

None of the breast implant types won't last a lifetime, and they may wear out inside the body without any sign. Extreme activities such as heavy exercises make the breast implants wear out sooner, so it is essential to visit a specialist about 10 to 15 years after the initial breast augmentation to check the prosthesis.

Tanning After Boob Job

After a boob job, avoiding sun tanning or using a tanning bed for a couple of months is better. Although tanning does not directly damage the breast prosthesis, it can cause the scar to darken and the prosthesis to become hot and loose.

Massaging the Implants after Breast Augmentation

It is advised to start massaging your implants a week after the surgery, but if you are afraid of hurting the incisions, you can start massaging after your wound has healed. Massaging the breasts for 5 minutes two to three times a day has many advantages, such as:

• It prevents capsular contracture;
• Help the implants to settle; 
• Speed up the healing process;
• Reduce your pain and discomfort; and
• Minimize scarring.

To massage the implants, you should squeeze them several times and gently push them upward, downward, and side to side for 20 seconds. After that, massage your breasts in a circular motion, starting from the top of the breast and moving around. 

It is noteworthy that the only allowed physical activity during breast augmentation recovery is implant massage and light walking at home. It would be best to avoid strenuous activities such as biking, jumping, weight-lifting, swimming, etc., until your surgeon allows you. 

Minimizing Scars After Boob Job

Right after boob job surgery, the doctor applies ointment on the incision site to minimize the scarring; however, you should have a realistic view of the surgical scars. Breast augmentation scars may be visible for up to two years, but eventually, they will fade away, and a pale white line may remain on the incision site. Meanwhile, you can use laser therapy to diminish the scars, but waiting until the incision heals completely is better. 

Knowing all the necessary post-op tips, you can now take the best care of your health to obtain good results from your boob job. Make a mental note that post-surgery cares and a healthy lifestyle are as important as the surgery itself, so it's crucial to follow all the tips suggested in this article. Moreover, you can always contact your doctor if you have any problems or discomfort.

FAQs on Boob Job

1) When does the heaviness go away after breast augmentation?

After the boob job, the skin stretches, and as a result, you feel tightness and heaviness in your breast. Depending on your body, the heaviness will go away two to five weeks after the surgery. 

2) What day is the most painful after breast augmentation?

The first three to five days after breast augmentation are the hardest. You will feel pain and tenderness in your chest during the first five days, but your doctor prescribes medication to help control the pain.

3) When will my breast implants look normal?

Although breast implants will settle about four to six weeks after a boob job, your breasts will look normal at least six months after the operation. 

4) Is breast augmentation permanent?

No, breast augmentation is not a permanent procedure, but the implants can last for 10 to 20 years.

5) Does breast augmentation cause cancer?

No, neither saline nor silicone breast implants increase the risk of breast cancer.

6) How long after breast augmentation can I get back to work?

Most women can return to work within one or two weeks after a boob job; however, people with labor-intensive jobs are recommended to rest at home for at least three weeks before returning to work.